Massage and Heat are two commonly used therapies not just for horses, but people and animals in general too. Equilibrium Products explore the benefits of them, along with when to use them and how to deliver them to your horse in an affordable, convenient and easy to use way.
Benefits of Massage
Massage is well known for its ‘feel good’ factor, caused by endorphin release. The release of endorphins suppresses stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, and has also been linked to a reduction in blood pressure – leading to better circulation. Aside to this, massage has been shown to aid relaxation and assist with the maintenance of healthy muscle and muscle function. A relaxed horse, with relaxed muscles, will move with fluidity and suppleness.
The perfect way to deliver massage to a horse is through the Equilibrium Massage Pad. The innovative design provides effective, affordable equine massage. Proven at Myerscough College promote relaxation in horses, as well as improve back flexibility by a whopping 46%*! The Massage Pad has 3 different settings, low, medium, and high, which allows you to select the intensity of the program to suit your horse. Each program has three types of massage: stroking, pulsing and vibration which ensures muscles are worked in different ways.
You can use the horse Massage Pad before riding, after riding or on a day off! Here’s a few ideas on when you might choose to use it:
- Horses on box rest to maintain good circulation.
- After exercise to help support recovery.
- Before exercise as part of warm up.
- At a show after travelling to relax.
- On your horse or pony’s day off as general maintenance.
- Anytime as a reward.
Find out more about the Massage Pad here: https://www.equilibriumproducts.com/product/equilibrium-standard-massage-pad/
What about the Benefits of Heat?
Heat can help to:
- Support healthy muscles and soft tissue.
- Warm up muscles or joints before exercise.
- Maintain lymphatic function.
- Increase metabolic and nerve activity.
Therefore, using heat is ideal for:
- Older horses.
- Warm horses up prior to exercise or stretching.
- Horses in work and/or competing.
- Young horses who are learning new things.
- Horses undergoing retraining and recruiting new muscles.
- Those returning to work after a period of rest.
- For any horse or pony to enjoy.
The perfect way to deliver heat to the horse is through the Massage Mitt Hotspot as it is repeatable and safe to use. The Hotspot is set to reach the ideal warm temperatures needed as shown by research.
The Massage Mitt Hotspot also allows you to target wherever you need to on your horse. Use it on the neck, shoulders, back, hindquarters or even the hamstrings. Being hand-held has its benefits, in the way that you can also put pressure behind it if your horse is happy with that, but equally if you’re short on time and would prefer, you can use a surcingle to secure the Hotspot depending on the area used, while you get on with other yard jobs.
Make sure you don’t miss out either! Use the Massage Mitt Hotspot on yourself at the end of a long day. It’s the perfect size to use on your lower back, neck, or shoulders – all areas that riders, or anyone that works with horses, will probably have some minor niggles from time to time!
Find out more about the Massage Mitt Hotspot here: Heat Pad for Horses with Massage – Massage Mitt Hotspot (equilibriumproducts.com)
Both the Massage Pad and Massage Mitt Hotspot will be available for demo’s on the Equilibrium Products Stand at the National Equine Show 4-5th March 2023, so why not pop over and try them out for yourself to see how they work.
* https://www.equilibriumproducts.com/massage-pad-summary-of-test-results/